P
US8725113B2ActiveUtilityPatentIndex 93

User proximity control of devices

Assignee: GARGI ULLASPriority: Mar 12, 2012Filed: Mar 12, 2012Granted: May 13, 2014
Est. expiryMar 12, 2032(~5.7 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:GARGI ULLASGOSSWEILER RICH
G06F 21/35G06F 21/74H04W 12/08H04W 88/02G06F 21/62H04M 1/67G06F 2221/2111H04M 2250/02G06F 21/44H04W 12/64H04W 12/33H04M 1/72412H04W 12/67
93
PatentIndex Score
38
Cited by
17
References
27
Claims

Abstract

Examples of embodiments provide systems and methods for varying the functions of an electronic device according to a physical relationship (e.g. the distance) between the electronic device and the primary user (e.g., owner) of the electronic device. The device may measure the distance using a wireless signal from a secondary device carried by or associated with the primary user. In some embodiments, the electronic device may change its functions based on its environment, in combination with the distance between the electronic device and the primary user. Environmental factors may include the device's location, the device's velocity, and the date and time of day.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method, comprising:
 storing, by a primary electronic device, information associating a user with the primary electronic device and a secondary electronic device that is carried by the user; 
 determining a distance between the user and the primary electronic device based on a connection between the primary electronic device and the secondary electronic device that is carried by the user; 
 reducing, by the primary electronic device, functionality of the primary electronic device responsive to determining that the distance between the user and the primary electronic device exceeds a threshold distance; and 
 increasing, by primary electronic device, the functionality of the primary electronic device responsive to determining that the distance between the user and the primary electronic device ceases to exceed the threshold distance. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary electronic device comprises a microphone and a speaker. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary electronic device comprises a short range wireless transmitter. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the short range wireless transmitter is a Bluetooth® transmitter. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the distance between the user and the primary electronic device comprises:
 determining an estimated distance between the user and the primary electronic device; and 
 comparing the estimated distance to the threshold distance to determine whether the user is located at least the threshold distance from the primary electronic device. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein determining the estimated distance is based on a strength of a signal received by the primary electronic device. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a current environment of the primary electronic device, wherein reducing the functionality of the primary electronic device is based on the distance between the user and the primary electronic device and the current environment of the primary electronic device. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein determining the current environment of the primary electronic device is based on a current location of the primary electronic device. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein determining the current environment of the primary electronic device comprises:
 determining a current velocity of the primary electronic device. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein reducing the functionality of the primary electronic device comprises revoking a permission. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein reducing the functionality of the primary electronic device comprises erasing a password stored on the primary electronic device. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein reducing the functionality of the primary electronic device comprises permitting a subset of available applications to execute on the primary electronic device. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein reducing the functionality of the primary electronic device comprises permitting a subset of available applications on the primary electronic device to be accessible. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein reducing the functionality of the primary electronic device comprises changing account permissions. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein changing account permissions comprises disabling a network access permission. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , wherein changing account permissions comprises disabling an access permission for the secondary electronic device that is registered with the primary electronic device. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the distance between the user and the primary electronic device comprises:
 evaluating a proximity profile corresponding to the threshold distance. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the distance between the user and the primary electronic device comprises:
 determining that the distance between the user and the primary electronic device exceeds the threshold distance; 
 delaying for a period of time; 
 determining that the distance between the user and the primary electronic device continues to exceed the threshold distance after the period of time. 
 
     
     
       19. An electronic device, comprising:
 a memory storing instructions; and 
 a processor, operably connected to the memory, that executes the instructions to perform operations comprising:
 storing, by a primary electronic device, information associating a user with the primary electronic device and a secondary electronic device that is carried by the user; 
 determining a distance between the user and the primary electronic device based on a connection between the primary electronic device and the secondary electronic device that is carried by the user; 
 reducing functionality of the primary electronic device responsive to determining that the distance between the user and the primary electronic device exceeds a threshold distance; and 
 increasing the functionality of the primary electronic device responsive to determining that the distance between the user and the primary electronic device ceases to exceed the threshold distance. 
 
 
     
     
       20. The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein determining the distance between the user and the primary electronic device comprises:
 determining an estimated distance between the user and the primary electronic device; and 
 comparing the estimated distance to the threshold distance to determine whether the user is located at least the threshold distance from the primary electronic device. 
 
     
     
       21. The electronic device of  claim 20 , wherein determining an estimated distance is based on a strength of a signal received by the primary electronic device. 
     
     
       22. The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 determining a current environment of the primary electronic device, wherein reducing the functionality of the primary electronic device is based on the distance between the user and the primary electronic device and the current environment. 
 
     
     
       23. The electronic device of  claim 22 , wherein determining the current environment of the primary electronic device is based on a current location of the primary electronic device. 
     
     
       24. The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein reducing the functionality of the primary electronic device comprises permitting only a subset of available applications on the primary electronic device to be accessible. 
     
     
       25. The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein determining the distance between the user and the primary electronic device is based on a proximity profile corresponding to the threshold distance. 
     
     
       26. The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein determining the distance between the user and the primary electronic device comprises:
 determining that the distance between the user and the primary electronic device exceeds the threshold distance; 
 delaying for a period of time; 
 determining that the distance between the user and the primary electronic device continues to exceed the threshold distance after the period of time. 
 
     
     
       27. The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein storing information associating the user with the primary electronic device comprises:
 storing in the memory information identifying the secondary electronic device that communicates with the primary electronic device.

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